Petunia plant named ‘Bartpet001’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Bartpet001’, characterized by its compact and mounding growth habit; freely branching habit; light green and pale yellow variegated leaves; early and freely flowering habit; medium-sized purple violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BARTPET001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia,botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Bartpet001’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Pittsburgh, Pa. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform Petunia plants with attractiveleaf and flower coloration.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pa. of Petunia×hybrida ‘Shenandoah’, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietaryselection of Petunia integrifolia, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Pittsburgh,Pa. in 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Pittsburgh, Pa. since 2009 hasshown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The new Petunia plant'sphenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bartpet001’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bartpet001’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding growth habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Light green and pale yellow variegated leaves.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Medium-sized purple violet-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Shenandoah’. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of‘Shenandoah’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have variegated leaves whereas        plants of ‘Shenandoah’ have solid green-colored leaves.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of        ‘Shenandoah’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia and ‘Shenandoah’ differ        in flower color as plants of ‘Shenandoah’ have pink, lavender        and white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more upright than and not as        spreading as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have variegated leaves whereas        plants of the male parent selection have solid green-colored        leaves.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the Petunia‘USTUN29801’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.12/802,249. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Pittsburgh, Pa.,plants of the new Petunia differed primarily from plants of ‘USTUN29801’in leaf color as plants of ‘USTUN29801’ had solid green-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bartpet001’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘Bartpet001’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 15.24-cm containers during the latesummer and early autumn in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall,Calif. and under commercial cultural practices. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 27° C. to 35° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 16° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from8,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time at plantingand were eight weeks old when the photographs and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Bartpet001’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘Shenandoah’, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Petunia integrifolia, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 to 14 days at            temperatures of about 24° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 to 18 days at            temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 21            days at temperatures of about 24° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 21 to 25            days at temperatures of about 21° C. to 24° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding growth habit;            freely branching habit with about five primary lateral            branches each with two to three secondary lateral branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch            development; dense and bushy plant form; moderately vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 11.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 23 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 147C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after            flowering, opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical to obovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute to nearly rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; viscid.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Centers, close tp            146C; towards the margins, close to 4C to 4D. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Centers, close to 138B; towards the            margins, close to 4D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Centers, close tp 138B; towards the margins, close to 4D;            venation, close to 138C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Centers, close to 147C; towards the margins, close            to 2D; venation, close to 138D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 145B to 145C. Color, lower surface: Close            to 145C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single-type salverform            flowers; singly arising from leaf axils; freely flowering            habit with usually about 20 to 25 flowers developing per            plant; flowers face mostly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            spring though the autumn in Southern California; plants            begin flowering about four to six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about three to            four days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6.4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.4 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9 mm to 10 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 2.9 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 4 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Oblong, elongated. Length: About 4 cm.            Diameter: About 8 mm. Color: Close to 90D.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 2.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.7 cm. Petal shape:            Spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire. Petal            texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Petal            texture, lower surface: Slightly pubescent along the veins.            Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent.            Petal color: When opening, upper surface: Brighter than 77A.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 90C. Fully opened,            upper surface: Slightly darker than N81A; towards the            throat, close to 86D; venation, close to 86A. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to N88C; venation, close to N88C.            Throat: Close to N87D; venation, close to 79A. Tube: Close            to 86C to 86D; venation, close to N79C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About            1.2 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Obovate. Sepal            apex: Obtuse. Sepal base: Truncate. Sepal margin: Entire.            Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,            upper surface: Close to 1D with random patches, close to            138A. Color, lower surface: Close to 1D with random patches,            close to 138B to 138C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Angle: About 35° from the stem axis. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 194B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.            Filament length: About 1.7 cm. Filament color: Close to            NN155D. Anther shape: Nearly round. Anther size: About            2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 93C. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to 96D. Pistils: Quantity: One per            flower. Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Style length: About            1.9 cm. Style color: Towards the apex, close to 86D; towards            the base, close to 157D. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma            color: Close to 146B. Ovary color: Close to 145B. Seeds and            fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on            plants of the new Petunia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Bartpet001’ asillustrated and described.